Pride V. Humility

Pride: An over-high opinion of oneself; exaggerated self-esteem; conceit.

Humility: Having or showing a consciousness of one's own defects or shortcomings; not proud; not self-assertive; modest.


Pride is the keystone of the 7 Deadly Sins. In some quarters it's considered the most serious sin -- not a small achievement since we're talking about the 7 worst sins -- and the one from which all of the other Deadly Sins emanate. I personally don't know where these quarters are: I'm just passing along rumors and unsubstantiated gossip that I've overheard. But pride is the original Mother of all sins, so to speak.

I've also heard some people in totally different quarters use the alternate word"vainglory." It's a great word. Then, if you so choose, you can be vainglorious. It sounds somehow worse and better than proud all at the same time.

It's funny when you think about it, how poorly we have handled the gifts that we've been given. Everybody is given gifts; most of us are given more than our fair share, and some of us are ridiculously blessed, despite all of the bitching we do about how badly we've been screwed.


Unfortunately, we have a tendency to take what we have been given and tell everyone all about it, implying that we are responsible for what we have. "I'm better than you," we think. If you're born with a sharp mind or great athletic ability or, as in my case, you are ridiculously good looking -- they don't call me Horseface for nothing -- then . . . so what? What exactly did you have to do with it?


Now it's important that we are all good stewards of the gifts that we have. Most of us have done a lot of squandering. Let's say that you're a good athlete and you practice hard and get better: I say good for you. That's something to be proud about. The definition of pride suggests that we can have a justified sense of our worth or accomplishments.


So when I bathe and comb my hair and some other attractive person says: "Lookin' good, Horseface!" I can reply: "Well, duh." All I'm saying is that it's OK to be proud of my good lucks, but when I get together with other really good looking people and we make fun of those who are not as good looking, well, that is completely wrong.

I'll try not to do that today.